A dog owner is appealing for the return of her beloved poorly pet which has been snatched by thieves.

Elizabeth Shiel says whoever has taken her cocker spaniel Jessie will not realise the dog suffers from arthritis and needs regular medication.

She said: "Jessie will be in a lot of pain soon unless she gets her drugs."

She pleaded with the thief: "Please bring her back to me or make sure you look after her."

Mrs Shiel, who lives in Charles Street, Brighton, was shopping in Safeway supermarket in nearby St James's Street at 6.20pm on Tuesday.

Jessie, who is 11 and black with some grey, was tied up outside when the thief took her.

Mrs Shiel said: "I only popped in for a few minutes. I was devastated when I found her gone.

"Jessie is my partner, the light of my life. I've been crying with worry and I haven't slept since she was taken."

Mrs Shiel's son has been contacting animal rescue organisations in the hope of tracing Jessie.

She praised Safeway staff who traced the thief on CCTV when he shopped in the store minutes before the theft.

"They couldn't have been more helpful. They trawled through their camera footage until they found him and then handed the tapes over to police."

Police were studying the footage and a spokeswoman said: "Hopefully, we will be able to identify the thief.

"Thieves don't often realise or, perhaps, care about the suffering they inflict on victims."

Anyone with information should contact Brighton and Hove police 0845 6070999.